Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Salinas, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Salinas, CA

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 55.8% cheaper than Salinas, CA without rent, and 76.9% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 57.9% cheaper than Salinas, CA without rent, and 74.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Salinas, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ΰΈΏ65.3
$29.69 $29.69
-93.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ΰΈΏ608
$89.1 $89.1
-78.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ΰΈΏ248
$12.04 $12.04
-36.30%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.2
$4.9 $4.9
-59.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ΰΈΏ26.64
$2.66 $2.66
-69.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ΰΈΏ10.58
$2.14 $2.14
-84.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ΰΈΏ68.6
$7.86 $7.86
-73.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ΰΈΏ121
$7.84 $7.84
-52.42%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Salinas, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ΰΈΏ53.2
$1.46 $1.46
12.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ΰΈΏ50.9
$3.55 $3.55
-55.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ΰΈΏ38.62
$6.36 $6.36
-81.29%
Eggs
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.1
$5.55 $5.55
-64.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ΰΈΏ517
$21 $21
-23.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ΰΈΏ101
$13.16 $13.16
-76.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ΰΈΏ361
$16.74 $16.74
-33.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ΰΈΏ89.2
$6 $6
-54.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ΰΈΏ39.5
$2.16 $2.16
-43.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ΰΈΏ55.4
$3.57 $3.57
-52.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ΰΈΏ50.2
$6.06 $6.06
-74.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ΰΈΏ43.21
$4.47 $4.47
-70.02%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ΰΈΏ39.23
$3.39 $3.39
-64.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ΰΈΏ23.2
$2.17 $2.17
-66.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ΰΈΏ17.05
$1.87 $1.87
-71.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ΰΈΏ153
$11.09 $11.09
-57.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ΰΈΏ595
$10.18 $10.18
80.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ΰΈΏ57.9
$1.68 $1.68
6.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ΰΈΏ104
$5.34 $5.34
-39.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Salinas, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ΰΈΏ30.44
$1.95 $1.95
-51.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ΰΈΏ612
$68.8 $68.8
-72.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ΰΈΏ46.08
$3.45 $3.45
-58.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ΰΈΏ43.53
$1.88 $1.88
-28.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ΰΈΏ254
$40.24 $40.24
-80.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ΰΈΏ40.4
$1.31 $1.31
-4.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ΰΈΏ684.9K
$24.2K $24.2K
-12.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ΰΈΏ706.8K
$26.3K $26.3K
-16.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Salinas, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ΰΈΏ2,285
$277 $277
-74.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ΰΈΏ444
$53.1 $53.1
-74.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ΰΈΏ568
$72.6 $72.6
-75.80%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Salinas, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ΰΈΏ1,347
$39.6 $39.6
5.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ΰΈΏ223
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ΰΈΏ188
$14.31 $14.31
-59.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Salinas, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ΰΈΏ9,963
$1,968 $1,968
-84.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ΰΈΏ475.8K
$38.3K $38.3K
-61.63%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Salinas, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ΰΈΏ1,793
$56.1 $56.1
-1.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ΰΈΏ854
$37.8 $37.8
-30.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ΰΈΏ2,755
$92.3 $92.3
-7.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ΰΈΏ2,323
$126 $126
-43.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Salinas, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ΰΈΏ14K
$2,200 $2,200
-80.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ΰΈΏ7,610
$2,164 $2,164
-89.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ΰΈΏ26.6K
$4,186 $4,186
-80.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ΰΈΏ16.1K
$3,806 $3,806
-86.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ΰΈΏ70.6K
$2,778 $2,778
-21.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ΰΈΏ49.9K
$2,415 $2,415
-36.10%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Salinas, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ΰΈΏ22.8K
$4,905 $4,905
-85.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.41
-22.00%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Salinas, CA: October 28, 2025

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